Twin Cities Archdiocese Seeking Superintendent of Schools

Reporting into the office of the Vicar General, Reverend Peter A. Laird, the Superintendent/Executive Director, Catholic Schools (Superintendent) will work to collaboratively build a vision for Catholic education in the Archdiocese.

This will build upon a solid foundation of work and findings as reported by ACSAC and The Catholic Schools Commission to address how the Archdiocese evaluates and provides quality Catholic education. Such a vision will address areas such as governance, Catholic identity, educational excellence assessment and curriculum, marketing and development, financial viability of the schools, enrollment and improved funding models. The Superintendent will also serve as a key figure in the promotion and support of Catholic education on behalf of the Archdiocese. This will involve close collaboration with Archbishop Nienstedt, Fr. Laird, ACSAC, The Office of Catholic Schools and other diocesan agencies in representing Catholic schools. The Superintendent will take a leadership role in the solicitation of funds for Catholic schools and will work closely with the Aim Higher Foundation. Beyond the Archdiocese, s/he will serve as a liaison with outside agencies impacting Catholic school education, including the public school districts.

The Superintendent will manage and lead the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS).

The Superintendent will work to establish and maintain a plan for communicating and making accessible the policies and regulations adopted by the Archdiocese to all pastors with schools, principals, presidents, teachers and governing committees.

Another key part of the Superintendent’s role will be working closely with school administrators to enhance the Catholic nature of educational programs, including spiritual development, in Catholic schools within the Archdiocese.

The Superintendent must be a visible leader at the school level as a new vision for education is created and implemented. While a larger vision is needed, individual successes and achievements at individual schools need to be actively promoted and elevated.

Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate for this position will be an inspirational and passionate advocate for Catholic education and will demonstrate a complex understanding of the issues, challenges and opportunities present in Catholic schools today. Critical to the success of this mission is the ability to inspire collaborative participation among the leaders at the school level. S/he will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of current trends in education and the Church dynamics and realities that affect Catholic schools. The successful candidate will be a change agent and bring experience in both creating and executing a multifaceted strategic plan that aligns with the aforementioned five strategic areas of focus. S/he will be entrepreneurial in his/her approach to change and be a creative, adaptable, results oriented and visionary leader. The successful candidate should have an educational background, which may include administrative experience in Catholic education at any level. The successful candidate may also come from the private sector. Experience in the areas of marketing, fundraising and operations are also highly desirable. An advanced degree is required. Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.

Specific competencies include the following:

Catholic Mission and Identity: S/he must be a practicing Catholic and active in his/her faith at the parish and diocesan level. S/he should display an operative understanding of how the Catholic Church is organized as a hierarchical communion of persons bound together by a common adherence to the faith and the moral life taught by the Church. S/he should also feel at ease working within and for the structured communion of faith and service that marks Catholic identity.
Leadership and Management: The successful candidate will have a record of strong and strategic leadership skills. This will include the ability to lead through periods of change. S/he should have experience managing in a highly complex environment and demonstrate examples of consensus building as a key driver in his/her success. The ability to manage through influence is essential and the ideal candidate will bring a record of working across departments or managing in a decentralized structure.

Developing and Leveraging Relationships: The successful candidate will bring a strong network of external relationships within the Catholic Church and beyond. S/he will have experience building and sustaining excellent relationships at multiple levels in the workplace. This includes the ability to gain respect of leadership in a decentralized structure and being perceived as a trusted advisor. The successful candidate will use relationship networks strategically and openly to accomplish objectives.

Outstanding Communicator: The successful candidate will have experience communicating with a wide variety of stakeholders and diverse audiences. S/he will have exceptional written and verbal communication skills and the ability to distill complicated concepts into consistent, digestible messages. S/he will be a confident leader who is comfortable hearing and presenting different
perspectives, enjoys engaging in constructive debate, and can be effective in a collaborative team environment where the prevailing approach to decision-making often is by consensus.

Strategy: The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with experience implementing visions to achieve strategic plans. S/he will be nimble and creative when setting strategy with the ability to anticipate hurdles. The successful candidate will have a record of sound judgment and creative thinking. S/he will be results focused and excellent with follow-up.

Interpersonal Style: The successful candidate will bring a personal love for the Church coupled with a high degree of diplomacy. The ideal candidate will be a highly charismatic leader with the interpersonal skills and intellect required for this complex role. S/he will be a leader who can drive change and new initiatives, but with strong appreciation of the unique culture within each of the schools across the Archdiocese. The ideal fit will be a strong listener. S/he will not only have a sense of empathy, but also know when to take calculated risks. Above all, the successful candidate will be committed to the mission of improving Catholic education across the Archdiocese and bring a strong passion for the issues.